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UN chief urges Israel and Iran to immediately end hostilities on Golan Heights

According to spokesman, the secretary-general "followed with utmost concern" reports of missile launches from Syria targeting Israeli positions and retaliatory strikes by Israel

UN, May 10. /TASS/. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres urged Israel and Iran to immediately halt all hostile actions in the Golan Heights area, his spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said on Thursday.

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According to the UN official, the secretary-general "followed with utmost concern" reports of missile launches from Syria targeting Israeli positions and retaliatory strikes by the Israel Defense Forces.

"The Secretary-General urges for an immediate halt to all hostile acts and any provocative actions to avoid a new conflagration in the region already embroiled in terrible conflicts with immense suffering of civilians," Dujarric said in a statement.

He added that the United Nations would support all efforts aimed at long term de-escalation and stability in the Middle East.

"In this context, the Secretary-General reiterates that the conflict in Syria should be brought to an end with a political solution through the Geneva intra-Syrian talks, as stipulated in resolution 2254 of the Security Council," the statement reads.

Earlier on the same day, the pro-Iranian Al-Quds forces deployed in Syria launched no less than 20 missiles and other projectiles at the advanced positions of Israeli Army units on the Golan Heights. Israel intercepted some of the Iranian missiles with the aid of the Iron Dome air defense systems while others fell short of striking the targets.

SANA news agency said later Syria’s air defense forces had downed dozens Israeli missiles fired from the territory of the occupied Golan Heights.

On Thursday, Israel’s Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon demanded the United Nations Security Council condemn the missile strike and press for the withdrawal of Iranian forces from Syria. He also said that "Israel is not interested in escalation, but under no circumstances will we allow Iran to establish a military presence in Syria."

Israel took control over the Golan Heights that had belonged by Syria from 1944 after the Six-Day War in 1967. In 1981, Israel’s Knesset (parliament) passed a law on the Golan Heights unilaterally proclaiming Israel’s sovereignty over this territory. United Nations Security Council Resolution 497 of December 17, 1981 ruled that the annexation was null and void, having no international legal effect.

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